The Shard, London The Shard, London Town: London Developer: Mace The Shard, also referred to as the Shard of Glass, Shard London Bridge and formerly London Bridge Tower, is an 87-storey skyscraper in London that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. The Shard's construction began in March 2009; it was topped out on 30 March 2012 and inaugurated on 5 July 2012.Practical completion was achieved in November 2012. Its privately operated observation deck, The View from The Shard, was opened to the public on 1 February 2013. Standing approximately 309 metres (1,014 ft) high, the Shard is currently the tallest building in the European Union. It is the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom, after the concrete tower at the Emley Moor transmitting station.

The glass-clad pyramidal tower has 72 habitable floors, with a viewing gallery and open-air observation deck on the 72nd floor, at a height of 244.3 metres (802 ft).It was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano and replaced Southwark Towers, a 24-storey office block built on the site in Southwark in 1975. The Shard was developed by Sellar Property on behalf of LBQ Ltd and is jointly owned by Sellar Property and the State of Qatar. Companies Involved The Vision | The Shard The Vision The Vision The story Irvine Sellar, The Shard’s developer and joint owner, had an ambitious vision to create an architecturally striking vertical city incorporating retail, offices, hotel, apartments, restaurants and a public viewing gallery. His idea was to build a diverse vibrant community, and provide multiple areas within which the public could experience the building and its magnificent views. And all of this astride one of London’s major transport hubs. Sellar acquired Southwark Towers, occupied by PwC, as an investment in November 1998.

When the UK government shortly afterwards began encouraging high-density developments close to transport hubs, Sellar set about planning a world-class building that would capture people’s imagination. He arranged lunch in Berlin with award-winning architect Renzo Piano and, Sellar says, the architect’s initial reaction was far from encouraging: “Renzo said: ‘You know, I hate tall buildings – they are arrogant, aggressive, like fortresses.’ I thought it was going to be a short lunch. “But there was something about the energy of the railway lines and the beauty of the Thames that appealed to him. So Renzo turned over his menu and started to sketch. What he drew in a matter of seconds bears a remarkable resemblance to The Shard today.“ Having seen the sketch, Sellar told Piano that if he would sign it and sign up, then he would build The Shard. Piano wrote: “To Irvine from Renzo, May 2000 Berlin” – and The Shard journey was under way. Some challenging years followed, during which the project overcame a lengthy planning process and a high-profile public inquiry, only for investment to slip away following the global economic crash.

But The Shard’s future was assured in 2008 when the State of Qatar came on board as a partner who shared Sellar’s vision. The construction phase was exhilarating and testing in equal measure. The team overcame sub-zero temperatures, gale force winds and the Thames breaking through the protective dam. Pioneering engineering methods were used, such as top-down construction, where foundations are dug while the core is built up – a first for the UK. Over one 36-hour period – employing 700 lorry-loads, one every three minutes – the team poured 5,400 cubic metres of concrete. The years of hard work and ingenuity came to fruition in 2012, when The Shard was completed and officially opened by the Prime Minister of Qatar. Since then, its restaurants, hotel and viewing gallery have opened to the public and tenants have begun to move into its offices. “The vision for The Shard was to create an architecturally striking vertical city incorporating retail, offices, hotel, apartments, restaurants and a public viewing gallery.” The Shard developer and joint owner Irvine Sellar Today, The Shard is a living, dynamic building, full of energy.

Its sits proudly next to its stunning sister building, The News Building, now headquarters to News UK and illustrious titles and media brands: The Times, HarperCollins, Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. These two Renzo-designed buildings will be occupied by 12,500 people and are already establishing a new vibrant community - London Bridge Quarter. The finished building remained true to the original vision of a “Vertical City” with multiple and different occupiers, many of which will operate 24 hours a day, including hotel, education, medical, tourist attraction, residential, retail, restaurant, and offices. The Shard’s proximity to London Bridge Station, which itself is being transformed into a 21st-century transport hub used by 75 million people a year, means travelling to it is a smooth experience for occupiers and visitors alike.

On 5 July 2012 The Shard was formally inaugurated by His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and HRH the Duke of York KG, in an event that marked the physical completion of the exterior of the building and represented the culmination of a 12-year journey to build a significant new landmark on the London skyline. The inauguration was also marked by a spectacular light and laser show that illuminated the building. “Standing at almost 310 metres, The Shard will be one of the tallest buildings in Western Europe. For me however, the height of The Shard is only secondary. What is special is the solid and continuing relationship between two nations - Qatar and Britain - which has been an important factor in completing this project.” His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Saoud Al Thani Governor of Qatar Central Bank Architecture Taking inspiration from the spires of London churches and the masts of tall ships depicted by the 18th-century Venetian painter Canaletto, Renzo Piano designed The Shard as a spire-like sculpture emerging from the River Thames.

The slender pyramidal form was tuned to the mix of uses that the building contains; offices making use of the large floor plates on levels 4-28, and directly connected to the busy transport hub at ground level. Immediately above are three floors of restaurants and bars. The hotel occupies the central section of the building, with the residences above, where the building is slender enough for apartments to have views on all sides. The final floors accommodate the UK's highest public viewing galleries, 240m above street level. The spectacular glass and steel spire at 95 storeys (310m) high forms its summit, tapering off and disappearing into the sky - a particularly important detail for Piano given the building’s prominence on the London skyline. Eight sloping glass facades, the "shards", define the shape and visual quality of the tower, fragmenting the scale of the building and reflecting the light in unpredictable ways. Opening vents in the gaps or “fractures” between the shards, provide natural ventilation to winter gardens. Fundamental to Piano’s vision of the building was the idea of lightness and transparency.

For all its height, The Shard would be an elegant spire in contrast to the bulky high-rises of the past. Realizing this idea meant using glass in a highly innovative way. Piano’s sophisticated use of extra white glass, with these expressive façades gives the tower a lightness and a sensitivity to the changing sky around it, The Shard’s colour and mood are constantly changing according to the weather and seasons. It required a particular technical solution to ensure the facade’s performance in terms of controlling light and heat. A double-skin, naturally ventilated facade with internal blinds that respond automatically to changes in light levels was developed. Outstanding architecture is why a million people visited The Shard’s viewing platform in its first year; why up to six thousand people a day visit The Shard’s restaurants and bars; why tens of thousands are expected to visit the Shangri-La hotel; why its office occupiers are reporting substantial uplift in new business since moving in; and why Londoners, especially, embrace this magnificent building. What the experts think Architect Richard Rogers “The Shard is the most beautiful addition to the London skyline.

Its beauty is in part due to the ever-changing play of light across the facades of the building.” Architecture Foundation director Sarah Ichioka "It soars solo, scaleless, elegantly free from the confines of context.” Peter Rees, City of London Chief Planning Officer "The Shard is architecturally cultured and a great addition to the London skyline." Boris Johnson, Mayor of London “If Christopher Wren had access to glass and steel, do you not think he would have built something as tall as The Shard?” Architect Amanda Levete “Its height and relationship to the city is daring and awe-inspiring, respectful of both historical neighbours and contemporaries without yielding its confidence and command of the cityscape.” Timeline 1999: After a government white paper encourages the development of tall buildings at major transport hubs, Irvine Sellar decides to redevelop Southwark Towers, a 1970s office complex he had acquired, and which was occupied by PwC. 2000: Sellar meets Renzo Piano in Berlin and asks him to create a 'vertical city' on the Southwark Towers site - a place where people would work, live, visit and enjoy themselves.

They agreed it was fundamental to have public access to the building - something that would be unusual for a tall structure in London. 2003: Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announces he is satisfied with the architectural quality of the proposed building and that construction can go ahead 2007: Developers buy the occupational lease from PwC and preparations are made for demolition of Southwark Towers 2008: After the financial crisis causes problems for the project, a consortium of Qatari investors steps in to provide funds and work to demolish the Southwark Towers begins in April 2009: Demolition of the existing site is completed and construction starts in March 2010: As construction continues, the concrete core of the building rises steadily by approximately three metres a day until in November, it becomes Britain’s tallest building, replacing One Canada Square in Canary Wharf. 2011: The core is topped out in early 2011 and as work continues, by late December 2011, the Shard overtakes the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt to becomes the tallest building in the European Union.

2012: On March 30, the 66-metre spire was winched into place, bringing the tower to its full height. The building is inaugurated in July by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, in a ceremony attended by Prince Andrew, Duke of York. 2013: The viewing platform is officially opened by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on 1 February. The Shard's restaurants and bars - Hutong, Oblix and Aqua Shard - open over the summer, at the same time as the first office tenant, Duff & Phelps, moves into the building. In November, Her Majesty the Queen and HRH Prince Phillip visit The Shard. 2014: In February, The View from The Shard reported one million people visited the attraction in its first year. More office tenants move into The Shard, including Mathys & Squire, Foresight and South Hook Gas. The Shangri-La Hotel opens in May to critical acclaim. In June, The Shard announces another three office tenants have leased space, while later in the year Al Jazeera (September) and Warwick Business School (November) move in.

2015: Valentine’s Day 2015 at The View from The Shard saw a record day of sales with 6161 visitors, pouring 2,414 glasses of champagne and a marriage proposal on average every 30 minutes. The year also saw 10 new tenants welcomed into the vertical city including The Office Group (TOG), global recruiter Robert Half and business consultancy Protiviti, who leased 20,200 sq ft of office space on Level 10, with io oil & gas consulting; Leonteq, software giant Sage, International law firm Greenberg Traurig Maher (GTM), Khazanah Europe Investments Ltd (KEIL), Medical Protection Society and Sapphire Systems. The broad range of business sectors that now occupy the building range across 14 sectors. The Shard - London Skyscraper, Tower - e-architect photos: Michel Denance Viewing Gallery Preview The Shard Viewing Gallery opening will be on 1 Feb 2013 – for a cost of £24.95.

The Shard Viewing Gallery – BBC video: Report by The Guardian on 11 Jan 2013: “the entrance at ground level is an anticlimax…coming by tube, as most will, you don’t even see the Shard before you enter its bowels…It is a relief to climb the stairs to the uppermost open deck of the 72nd floor, where the city sounds hit you along with gusts of fresh air. Surrounded by fractured plates of glass sliding to a jagged halt and the open steel carcass soaring several floors above to the ultimate summit, it is a breathtaking sight”.

The Shard Viewing Gallery – external link to article by Oliver Wainwright Photos © Adrian Welch from 12 Nov 2012: Photos © Nick Weall – added 23 Sep 2012: Photo © Keepclicking – added 10 Sep 2012: Inauguration of The Shard July 5th: Official Inauguration of The Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building Video footage from the laser show: New videos, 6 Jul 2012: Shard architect Renzo Piano should be banned from building in London because his latest buildings have done such harm to the capital, said Dixon Jones partner Ed Jones. Hours after a laser show lit up central London to inaugurate the Shard, Jones poured cold water on the celebrations, describing Europe’s tallest building as “an embarrassment”, reports BD. Its architect should be imprisoned in the Tower of London to contemplate his folly across the river, he suggested. “The Shard is a really terrible building,” said Jones, whose Exhibition Road redevelopment won a RIBA Award last month. “It’s a ridiculous notion to put a 1000 ft building in a side street. It makes all the buildings around it suddenly look useless and pathetic.

It does no service to the city. “Canary Wharf was criticised at the time but those buildings look fine because they are far enough away from the 19th-century city.” Jones also said Piano’s other recent work in London – Central St Giles in Bloomsbury – was a “complete disaster”. He said: “Maybe we should ban him from building here because he is a monster. We should put him in the Tower.” At approx 22.10 BST on Thursday July 5th there was a spectacular laser show – the biggest London has ever seen – projected onto and from The Shard. At a height of 309.6 metres (1,016 feet) and with a total 72 occupied floors reaching skyward into a breathtaking 15 story spire, the Shard London Bridge Quarter is set to be the tallest building in Western Europe.

The Shard photos – exclusive to e-architect – 28 Jun 2012 photos © Nick Weall The Shard is a multi-use vertical city which features high quality offices, the 5-star Shangri-La hotel with more than 200 rooms and suites that is due to open by November 2012, and 3 floors of signature restaurants. It will also feature exclusive super prime residential apartments and the top levels will consist of the capital’s highest public viewing gallery offering 360° views of the City of London. Visitors to The Shard will be treated to stunning views of the capital and its surrounding countryside. And it is estimated that more than 1 million people a year will take advantage of the highest public viewing gallery in Europe. The Shard is jointly owned by LBQ Limited, comprising the State of Qatar (the majority shareholder) and Sellar Property Group, with non-equity funding by Qatar National Bank. The State of Qatar has a strong commitment to invest and build in the UK as part of Qatar’s 2030 Vision, which is the country’s roadmap to achieving a sustainable, diversified economy, and The Shard forms part of this portfolio.

London Bridge Quarter is a 2m sq ft gross mixed-use development regenerating this part of London’s South Bank. The Shard and its sister development The Place are linked seamlessly with London Bridge Station through a new central plaza, public realm, bus station and train station concourse. photos © Nick Weall The Shard immediately adjacent to London Bridge Station will rest elegantly on the London skyline, providing a welcome new symbol for the world financial capital. The tower is also the second-tallest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom, after the 330-metre (1,083 ft) Emley Moor transmitting station The Shard photos – exclusive to e-architect – from 1 Apr 2012 The Shard is one of the most enigmatic buildings to adorn the London skyline in recent years. The vision of its creator, the much lauded Italian architect Renzo Piano was for a vertical ‘City in the Sky’; and the Shard at London Bridge Quarter with its mix of offices residences, hotel, restaurants and viewing platforms will herald a new era in high rise development for London and will become emblematic when all eyes look towards the city in 2012.

The Shard replaces the Southwark Tower, a 1970’s building located on London Bridge Street. The Shard offers high density vertical development at a transport hub and will be the UK’s first truly mixed use tower, devised to interface with London on many levels. The master architect, Renzo Piano, designed the Shard as a ‘vertical city’ that includes a public piazza, 586,509 sq ft (54, 488 sq m) of world class office space, an exclusive collection of residential apartments which will be the highest residential apartments in the UK and will be serviced by Europe’s first 5-star Shangri-La Hotel, retail space, restaurants, and a public viewing gallery. This will all ensure that it becomes the beating heart of a regenerated London Bridge Quarter. photos © Nick Weall The Shard photos – from 19 Mar 2012 images : e-architect resource Design: Renzo Piano Building Workshop with Ove Arup & Partners 25 Apr 2011 The Shard : Letter to e-architect I have the greatest privelege to watch this magnificient ediface take shape every day as I commute into London.

On the whole we British to not take too well to change and are unacceptable of new ideas. The London Evening Standard Newspaper showed a skewed and highly doctored view of this building some weeks ago and suggested how shocking it was that it overpowered St Paul’s Cathedral. That was pure humbug and typifies English attitudes. The Shard together with the Gherkin Building have brought Britain into the new century archetecturally. For London these symbols signify a new era of hope and optimism for the future. All the detractors live in a bygone age of sentimentality and a lust for this countries past glory. Renzo Piano is a wonderful archetect who will leave a legacy of dynamism the like of which the mediocre Frank Geary will never hope to attain. I am delighted that every day The Shard lights up my day and I say to all those wretched people who cannot see the brilliance to open there eyes further. Simon Weinberg Do you agree with Simon or not?

Comments / photos for the The Shard London Skyscraper page welcome : info(at)e-architect.co.uk The Shard photos © Nick Weall – from 27 Feb 2011 11 Jan 2011 The Shard Tower As the form starts to emerge there is growing consternation among many Londoners about its appearance. The latest nickname we’ve received is ‘Dalek’. The siting of tall buildings at major transport nodes (here London Bridge, a major station feeding the city from the southeast) is a sound policy. But why super tall? What end is served by this macho rush for height? Other than the sheer bulk, the actual design appears to lack elegance – a wide base and angles well off the vertical. In some ways it is too early to judge properly – the render towards the base of this page shows a slender tip that helps carry the rest of the building below. However in eschewing a slender form the architects have taken a path less travelled, but it is less travelled for good reasons.

Adrian Welch, editor WAN:: Shard Number 3 by WAN Editorial in London, United Kingdom Be the first to comment Sellar Property Group commissions Renzo Piano to design a third tower in London Bridge The Sellar Property Group has commissioned architect Renzo Piano to design another tower as part of its regeneration of the London Bridge area. The 27-storey project is being dubbed Shard number three, as it will be Piano's third tower project in the area after his original 87-storey Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, and the so-called Baby Shard (or, more officially, The Place) next door, which has just 17 floors. The new building, which will be next to the Shard and London Bridge Station, will house 150 apartments, a new public space, retail space and will ‘float' 14m above London Bridge Street. "This exciting project continues the regeneration of the area around London Bridge Station, building on the success of both the Shard and The Place as well as the significant improvements we have already made to the station concourse and bus station," said James Sellar, son of the property group's founder Irvine Sellar. No images of the design have yet been released.

Key Facts The Shard | ArchiTravel Address: 32 London Bridge St, LONDON , United Kingdom Latitude: 51.50449 Longitude: -0.08650 The Shard is an 87-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is currently the joint 92nd tallest building in the world and the fourth tallest building in Europe and the tallest building in the European Union. Renzo Piano, the project’s architect, designed The Shard as a spire-like sculpture emerging from the River Thames. He was inspired by the railway lines next to the site, the London spires depicted by the 18th-century Venetian painter Canaletto, and the masts of sailing ships. Piano’s design met criticism from English Heritage, who claimed the building would be “a shard of glass through the heart of historic London”, giving the building its name, the Shard.

Piano considered the slender, spire-like form of the tower a positive addition to the London skyline, recalling the church steeples featured in historic engravings of the city, and believed that its presence would be far more delicate than opponents of the project alleged. He proposed a sophisticated use of glazing, with expressive façades of angled glass panes intended to reflect sunlight and the sky above, so that the appearance of the building will change according to the weather and seasons. The building features 11,000 panes of glass, with a total surface area of 56,000 square metres (600,000 sq ft). The Shard was designed with energy efficiency in mind. It is fitted with a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, operating on natural gas from the National Grid. Fuel is efficiently converted to electricity and heat is recovered from the engine to provide hot water for the building. Following the destruction of New York’s World Trade Center (WTC) in the terror attacks of 11 September 2001, architects and structural engineers worldwide began re-evaluating the design of tall structures.

The Shard’s early conceptual designs were among the first in the UK to be amended following the publication of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report into the collapse of the WTC. The building is designed to maintain its stability under very onerous conditions, with its post-tensioned concrete and composite floors, load-bearing pillars and tapering shape giving it a sway tolerance of 400 millimetres (16 in). In 2014, The Shard claimed first place at the Emporis Skyscraper Awards, recognising buildings over 100 metres completed in the previous twelve months. The Emporis judges hailed the building as “a skyscraper that is recognized immediately and which is already considered London’s new emblem”. Construction History - A Guide To The Shard Visit The Shard Cheapest Shard Tickets listed here! Construction History ShardLDN | January 19, 2014 | Shard Info , The Shard | No Comments The history of the Shard is dates back to the year 2000. As you will soon find out, it is a troubled history filled with financial issues, condemnation from heritage bodies and even intervention from the government.

The History of the Shard begins in the year 2000, in a restaurant in Berlin. The full story of the Shard, as told by its architect Renzo Piano, is beautifully described in his dedicated book . Year – 2000 The first concept of the Shard is created by Renzo Piano in a Berlin restaurant. Renzo was meeting with developer Irvine Sellar who wanted to redevelop Southwark Towers (see below). During the meeting, Renzo sketched the first initial design of the shard on the back of a menu. Renzo Piano’s book Click here to view Renzo Piano’s other work. Year – 2002 The design of the Shard is finalised as a mix use, 310 meter tower. Southwark borough council grants planning permission with a completion date scheduled for late 2005. Cabe and English heritage oppose the project, claiming the tower will disrupt views of other London landmarks, such as St Pauls Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster. English heritage once stated that it would ‘tear through historic London like a shard of glass’, ironically coining the now famous nickname.

Deputy Prime minister John Prescott orders a planning inquiry in response to these concerns Year – 2003 The planning inquiry into the development of the Shard takes place between April and May. It isn’t until November that Office of the deputy prime minister announces that they had approved construction. The backing of the government is finalised in the release of letter which states: Mr Prescott would only approve skyscrapers of exceptional design. For a building of this size to be acceptable, the quality of its design is critical. He [Mr Prescott] is satisfied that the proposed tower is of the highest architectural quality.” Year – 2005 The Shard secures its first major pre-let (tenant), luxury hotel chain Shangri- La hotels. They will occupy close to 20 floors in the building. The luxurious Kuala Lumpur chain of this hotel can be seen below. By the end of 2005, relations between the main developers (Sellar, Halabi and CLS holdings) have deterirated over the allocation of stakes in the scheme. This slows down progress in securing tenants.

Year- 2007 The Project is put in further jeopardy due to turbulence in the financial markets, however construction looks set to continue as in November talks commence with Mace to construct the Shard for £350 million. This figure rises by £85 million in under a year. Preparation for the demolition of Southwark towers (see image below) to make way for the Shard begins. Year- 2008 The Standoff between the developers is put to an end when, in January, Halabi and CLS Holdings are bought out by a Quatari consortium. The new developers promise to provide finance to ensure construction can go ahead. Demolition of Southwark towers continues throughout the year. Southwark towers become the tallest buildings in London to ever be demolished. Year- 2009 February- Demolition of Southwark towers is complete and preparation works for the construction of the Shard begins. In the same month, the construction contract is signed with Mace, allowing construction to start immediately. Basement works and piling begin in March and continue for several months. October- The first steel works are visible and concrete pouring begins.

Year- 2010 January- The Core becomes visible at ground level and steel work continues at a rapid pace. May- The core has reached a height of 80m and is clearly visible on the London skyline. June- Cladding of the main structure begins. November – The Shard becomes the tallest building in London and the UK on the 23rd of November. It overtakes 1 Canada square in Canary wharf, which is 235 meters high. Year- 2011 The core of the Shard reaches its full height in early 2011. The rest of the building saw steady progression throughout the year. By the end of 2011 the Shard had become the tallest tower in the EU, surpassing Germany’s Commerzbank Tower. Year – 2012 March – The Steel structure of the Shard reaches its full height when the 500 tonne spire is winched into place. A ‘test run’ of the spire construction is carried out in a field in Yorkshire before being attached to the building itself. The cladding process is complete and building is externally finished. June – The Shard is formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Quatar.

The inauguration features a laser show, with 12 lasers and 30 search lights lighting up the London Sky. Each laser pointed to a different London landmark. November – The building is practically completed. Year – 2013 January – The View from The Shard public viewing platform opens, allowing people to visit the highest inhabitable floors of the building and enjoy the highest observation point in Western Europe. Click here to for more information on the Shard’s viewing platform If you are interested in other London towers then please visit the Emporis Website which has information on every major tower in the world. 27 world famous buildings to inspire you | Creative Bloq 27 world famous buildings to inspire you 27 world famous buildings to inspire you By Kerrie Hughes From the Colosseum to the Kabba, get a dose of inspiration from 27 of the world's most famous buildings. Shares Whether you're a busy art director or an illustrator working from home , every creative needs some downtime. And there's no better way to both relax and be inspired than jetting off somewhere you've never been before. Whenever we travel to far-flung places, we're attracted to the famous buildings.

Much like a photograph, architectural designs record details of specific moments in time. But unlike an photograph, physical structures go on to have a life of their own, becoming a central and functional part of countless people's lives for hundreds, if not thousands, of years after they were built. Here we have picked 27 of the most famous building designs from around the world to inspire you. 01. Lotus Temple The temple welcomes worshippers of all faiths The Lotus Temple is a Bahá'í House of Worship in New Delhi consisting of 27 structures resembling petals of the lotus flower that open onto a central hall around 40m high. It has nine sides, nine doors, and can accommodate 2,500 people. It's surface is made of white marble from Mount Pentelicus in Greece, the same marble used to build the Parthenon. Since its completion in 1986 it has become one of the most visited buildings in the world, attracting over 100 million people. 02.

Cologne Cathedral Germany's most-visited landmark Cologne Cathedral is a High Gothic five-aisled basilica, the construction of which began in 1248 and stopped in 1473, before the building was complete. Work did not resume until the 1800s, and it was finally finished in 1880. Later work follows the original medieval plan faithfully. It is renowned as a Gothic masterpiece and houses many works of art as well as the tombs of 12 archbishops. 03. Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem The Dome of the Rock is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture A masterpiece of Islamic architecture, the Dome of the Rock is a 7th century building, located in Jerusalem. Built by Caliph Abd al-Malik between 687 and 691, the octagonal plan and the rotunda dome of wood are of Byzantine design. The Persian tiles on the exterior and the marble slabs that decorate the interior were added by Suleiman I in 1561. The oldest extant Islamic monument, the Dome of the Rock has served as a model for architecture and other artistic endeavors for over a millennium. 04.

La Pedrera, Barcelona Gaudi's La Pedrera is one of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture Nested among the urban streets of Barcelona are some unusual and beautiful buildings by infamous architect Antoni Gaudi. His unique approach to the Art Nouveau movement generated some of the most creative buildings the world have ever seen. And La Pedrera is no exception. One of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture, this is more sculpture than building. The façade is a varied and harmonious mass of undulating stone that, along with its forged iron balconies, explores the irregularities of the natural world. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognised this building as World Heritage in 1984. 05. One World Trade Center, New York The One World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. Image © One World Trade Center The latest addition to New York's skyline, the One World Trade Center, is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. Construction began in April 2006 and the final component of the building's spire installed five years later in 2013, making it the fourth tallest skyscraper in the world.

The One World Trade Center's design is no coincidence, standing at a symbolic height of 1,776 feet (541m) in a direct nod to the year of the US Declaration of Independence. Designed by David M Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill , the 104-story glass tower raises from a cube base before transforming from the 20th floor into eight sleek isoceles triangles. Stood adjacent to the city's beautiful 9/11 memorial, the One World Trade Center is a shining beacon for the city. 06. St Paul's Cathedral, London British architect Sir Christopher Wren took 10 years to finalise his designs for St Paul's London's most iconic building, St Paul's Cathedral, was designed by English architect Sir Christopher Wren . Sitting at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, its famous dome is one of the world's largest, measuring nearly 112 metres high. The original church on the site was founded in the year 604AD.

Work on the present English Baroque church began in the 17th Century by Christopher Wren as part of a major rebuilding program after the Great Fire of London. Wren started working on St Paul's in 1668, his designs for the cathedral taking a decade to complete and the actual construction taking a further 40 years. St Paul's has played an integral part of London life ever since – as a domineering element in the city's skyline, as a centre for tourism and religious worship, and most recently as a focal point for anticapitalist protests. 07. Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur The Petronas Towers are an iconic landmark in Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur Standing at 170 metres above ground, the Petronas Towers are twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The buildings, which held the titled of tallest in the world between 1998-2004, are an iconic landmark of the capital city. The distinctive postmodern style was created by architects Cesar Pelli and Achmad Murdijat, engineer Deejay Cerico and designer Dominic Saibo under the consultancy of JC Guinto. 08.

The White House, Washington The White House, designed by Irish architect James Hoban, took eight years to construct. Image © Matt Wade Irish architect James Hoban was the man behind the design of the White House. In 1792 Hoban submitted a plan for the presidential mansion and subsequently got the commission to build the White House. Constructed began in 1793 through to completion in 1801. The mansion, which has been home to every US leader since the country's second president John Adams, is made from white-painted Aquia sandstone. 09. Leaning Tower of Pisa Due to restoration work carried out in 2001, the tower currently leans at just under 4 degrees. It is estimated that it will collapse in the next 75-100 years. Image © Alkarex Malin äger The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most remarkable architectural structures in Europe. Most famous for its tilt, the tower began to lean during construction after soft ground on one side was unable to properly support the structure's weight. Building work on the tower began in 1173 and went on for over a whopping 300 years.

There has been much controversy surrounding the true identity of the architect behind the tower – the design originally attributed to artist Bonnano Pisano but studies have also implicated architect Diotisalvi. 10. The Kaaba, Mecca The Kabba is a most sacred space in Islam The Kaaba, meaning cube in Arabic, is a square building located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A most sacred place in Islam, the Kabba is elegantly draped in a silk and cotton veil. Every year millions of Muslims travel to the Kabba for the hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. The small square building is about 60 feet high and it's walls a metre wide, with it's total size occupying roughly 627 square feet. 11. The Shard, London The Shard is an 87-storey skyscraper, which sits in the heart of London Also referred to as the shard of glass, The Shard is an 87-storey skyscraper, which sits in the heart of London. Construction began in 2009 and was completed three years later in 2012, making it Western Europe's tallest building.

Designed by architect Renzo Piano, The Shard is the second tallest free standing structure in the UK. It's exterior boasts 11,000 glass panels – that's equivalent in area to eight football pitches or two-and-a-half Trafalgar Squares. The building was developed to have multiple uses, described on the website as a 'vertical city where people can live, work and relax'. This motto was clearly taken on board by a fox, nicknamed Romeo, that was found on the 72nd floor towards the end of construction. 12. St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow The unique St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square, Moscow was designed by architect Postnik Yakolev No, we haven't included a piece of Disneyland architecture on our list. This garish, candy coloured cathedral is in fact Moscow's most visited tourist attraction. The famous landmark, shaped to resemble the flame of a bonfire rising into the sky, is located just outside the Kremlin gates and marks the geometric centre of the city. Built between 1554 and 1560, the cathedral was erected during the reign of Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible).

Little is known about the building's architect Postnik Yakovlev, but he was clearly a fan of onion domes, sharp spikes and polygonal towers. 13. Empire State Building, NYC Construction of the world-famous Empire State building was completed in just one year and 45 days We couldn't put together a list of world-famous buildings without including this grand Art Deco skyscraper. Once the tallest building in the world, construction began on the Empire State building on St Patrick's Day 1930 and was completed just 410 days later. The building was designed by William F Lamb of architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon . It was declared by the American Society of Civil Engineers to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and is known around the world as an icon of New York City. 14. Lloyds Building, London The award-winning Lloyds building was designed by Italian-born architect Richard Rogers. Image © Aurelien Guichard This futuristic building looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie rather than Lime Street in London.

The award-winning Lloyds building (also known as the Inside-Out building) is an iconic architectural landmark and one of the most recognisable constructions on the London skyline. Architect Richard Rogers was the brains behind the innovative design, which has its services – including water pipes and staircases – on the outside. Built between 1978 and 1986, the building also features 12 exterior lifts, which were the first of their kind in the UK. 15. Colosseum, Rome The Colosseum is the largest Roman amphitheatre ever built. Image © David Iliff This elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of Rome is considered as one of the greatest architectural feats achieved by the Ancient Romans. The stadium was capable of seating 50,000 spectators and used mainly for gladiatorial games. Built from concrete and stone, construction began on the Colosseum began around 72AD and finished in 80AD. The design and shape of the Colosseum has been the inspiration for many modern day stadiums. Today it is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions, attracting thousands of visitors each year. 16.

Taj Mahal, India The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Image © Muhammad Mahdi Karim Recognised as 'the jewel of Muslim art in India', the Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Often mistaken as a palace, this famous landmark was actually built as a tomb for the Emperor's wife after she died giving birth to their 14th child. The Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture – an amalgamation of Persian, Turkish and Indian styles. Construction on the mausoleum began in 1632 and was completed in 1648. The surrounding buildings and gardens took a further five years to finish. 17. Chrysler Building, NYC The Chrysler building attained the title of world's tallest in building in 1930 for just one year when the Empire State was erected. Image Joris Van Rooden In the early part of the 20th Century, people everywhere were in a race to build the tallest building.

At the time, this gorgeous Art Deco skyscraper was almost outdone by the Bank of Manhattan but its spire (which was constructed in secret) enabled it to take the title of 'tallest building in the world' in 1930. It didn't last long though. Just a year later the Empire State Building was erected. Designed by architect William Van Alen , the skyscraper was commissioned by car manufacturer Walter P Chrysler, hence its name. 18. Sydney Opera House Sydney Opera House is the most famous Australian architectural icon Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as one of the greatest architectural works of the 20th century. The innovative design came from architect Jørn Utzon , who was relatively unknown until January 29, 1957 when his entry to the 'International competition for a national opera house at Bennelong Point, Sydney' was announced the winner. The beautiful building comprises of three groups of interlocking shells, which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. A masterpiece of modern architecture, the opera house has become an iconic symbol of both Sydney and the Australian nation. 19. Space Needle, Seattle 40 years after its construction, the Space Needle remains Seattle's best visitor destination.

Image © Jordon Kalilich The futuristic Space Needle in Seattle, Washington was built for the 1962 World's fair. The famous landmark stands at 184m high and 42m wide at its widest point. The design was a collaborative effort between architects Edward E Carlson and John Graham . Not only is the architecture a marvel to look at but the building's impressive design can survive wind velocities of 200mph and can escape serious structural damage during earthquakes of up to 9.1 magnitudes. 20. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Now a museum, Hagia Sophia is located in Istanbul, Turkey Once a church, later a mosque, and now a museum, Hagia Sophia is a architectural masterpiece. A perfect example of Byzantine architecture , Hagia Sophia is located in Instanbul, Turkey. The building was built for the first time by the emperor Constantine the Great (306-337). However, due to many factors, including being burned down in riots and earthquakes, the ancient cathedral has been rebuilt many times since. Despite this, Hagia Sophia is widely recognised as one of the great buildings of the world.

And if that wasn't cool enough, the building also features in the opening scenes of the Bond film, Skyfall. 21. Buckingham Palace, London Buckingham Palace is one of London's most popular tourist attractions. Image © David Iliff Originally known as Buckingham House, George III bought the property in 1735 when the mansion was little more than a red brick house. Since then, various architects have worked on the building to make it what it is today, including John Nash, Edmund Blore and Sir Aston Webb. The palace also had to undergo extensive work after being bombed no less than nine times during World War II. However, still very much in operation, it's one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. 22. Fallingwater Frank Lloyd Wright created this unique design for the Kauffman family in 1934. Image © Sxenko Designed by famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1934, Fallingwater is quite possibly the most famous private residence in the world. But why? Well, the unique design makes it look like the house stretches out over a 30ft waterfall, with no solid ground beneath it.

This isn't the case, obviously, but the innovative design captured everyone's attention when it was finalised in 1939. It became famous instantly and is now a natural historic landmark. It's so cool you can even get a Lego version of the architectural masterpiece! 23. Pantheon, Rome Built approximately 2000 years ago, the Pantheon continues to inspire architects all over the world Rome is home to many amazing buildings, and the Pantheon is no exception. And, like the city itself, it was not built in a day. Destroyed twice and rebuilt each time, the building started as a rectangular structure, which, over time, evolved into the gorgeous dome building seen today. An inspiration to architects all over the world over the last 2,000 years, the Pantheon roof remains the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. There is much debate between historians over which emperor and architects were responsible for the Pantheon's design although it is known that this 'Temple of the Gods' was built around 126AD. 24.

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao Architect Frank Gehry developed the unique concept for the museum after winning an architectural competition to design the building The Guggenheim museum Bilbao is one of the most admired works of contemporary architecture. California-based Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry created the unique concept after winning an architectural competition to design the building. Since the museum doors opened in 1997, it has been hailed one of the most important buildings of the 20th century. Now with over a decade of success, the museum has homed over a hundred exhibitions and has welcomed more than 10 million visitors. 25. Flatiron building, New York Chicago architect Daniel Burnham designed the distinctive Flatiron building, which is instantly recognisable in New York's skyline The eye-catching Flatiron building in Manhattan was designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham and built in 1902. The distinctive triangular shape allowed the building to fill the space located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway. Another of New York's skyscrapers, it was never the tallest but remains one of the most memorable and has been a source of inspiration for artists and architects for over a century now. 26.

Villa Savoye, France Villa Savoye was originally built as a country retreat for the Savoye family in 1928 Designed by Swiss architects Le Corbusier and his cousin, Pierre Jeanneret, Villa Savoye is an early and classic example of the International style – a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and '30s. The property was built in 1928 and, after surviving several demolition plans, was designated as an official French historical monument in 1965. 27. Burj Khalifa, Dubai Don't look down! The world's tallest building in Dubai over 800 metres high. Image © Nicolas Lannuzel Last on our list – but by no means the least – is the world's tallest building Burj Khalifa. The mammoth skyscraper and magnificent centerpiece of Downtown Dubai stands at a whopping 828.9 metres high. Construction began on the 160-floor building in 2004 with its doors opening six years later in 2010.

The task of creating the world's tallest manmade structure was awarded to the Chicago office of American architectural and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings and Merril LLP . Related articles:

Question: Which architect designed the 87-storey Shard Building in London?
Answer: RENZO PIANO